Coach Myndret Busack and nine members of his 1963 Adrian High School boys basketball team, along with four of the cheerleaders, were honored at halftime of Friday's Adrian-Ypsilanti Lincoln game.

The 1963 Adrian team advanced to the Class A state championship game and lost to Ferndale. The coach received a standing ovation as he was introduced and made his way to the court during the 50th anniversary celebration.

"Joe Hubbard told me had watched a film of that game and said we missed seven layups," Busack said. "We could have had fouls, too."

After coaching baseball and basketball at Adrian from 1953 to 1964, Busack went back to school to earn his Master's degree and continued coaching in Indiana and Ohio until retiring in 1976. He retained pride in his Maple team.

"All of them went on to get additional education," Busack said. "We've got an engineer, a veterinarian and a couple of teachers."

"Lisa Wilkie from the alumni office contacted me about six weeks ago and reminded me that the 50th anniversary was this year and the school wanted to honor that team," Lewis said. "We've had a good turnout. It's going to be a fun evening."

Busack said he remembered the team as being a very tight group. The tournament run was exciting, though the season didn't end the way the Maples wanted.

"It was a great time we had together," he said. "It was a great honor for me to work with these great young men."

The 2012-13 Adrian Maple squad presented the alumni with a very special banner honoring their achievement. The blue and white banner will hang in the rafters.

In 1963, Lenawee County had two basketball teams that reached the state championship game in their respective classes.

The Britton Tories won the first of their two consecutive Class D state titles. The Britton teams will be honored at a later date by the Britton Deerfield school district.